Information storage device, removable device, developer container, and image forming apparatus

1. An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, comprising:

an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device;

a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal installed in the image forming apparatus body and communicates the information with the image forming apparatus body; and

a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body, wherein

the terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof with a clearance therebetween,

an earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section of the image forming apparatus body, is formed in the hole in the substrate, and

the hole in the substrate is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates.

2. The information storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the earth terminal is formed at least on an inner surface of the hole.

3. The information storage device according to claim 1 , wherein

the substrate includes one hole as the hole, and

the hole is formed at a position above a gravity center of the substrate.

4. The information storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the earth terminal includes a protruding section formed to extend in a predetermined direction on a front surface of the substrate on which the terminal is formed.

5. The information storage device according to claim 4 , wherein the protruding section is arranged in a wedge-shaped area formed between an outer edge of an annular section of the earth terminal and the metallic plates having a rectangular shape.

6. The information storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the body side terminal includes a plurality of metallic member terminals, and the plurality of metallic plates comprise:

an input terminal for a clock signal to which a serial clock is input when that input terminal is connected to a first metallic member terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals,

an input terminal for a serial data to which the serial data is input/output when that input terminal is connected to a second metallic member terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals, and

an input terminal for a power source to which a voltage is input when that input terminal is connected to a third metallic terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals.

7. A removable device that is installed removably in an image forming apparatus body and is any one of a toner cartridge inside which toner is contained, a process cartridge inside which toner is contained, and an ink cartridge inside which ink is contained, comprising:

the information storage device according to claim 1 .

8. The removable device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a holder that holds the information storage device such that the information storage device is movable on a virtual plane that intersects with a moving direction in which the earth terminal approaches and comes in contact with the body side earth terminal.

9. The information storage device according to claim 8 , wherein the earth terminal is formed at least on an inner surface of the hole.

10. The information storage device according to claim 8 , wherein

the substrate includes one hole as the hole, and

the hole is formed at a position above a gravity center of the substrate.

11. The information storage device according to claim 8 , wherein the earth terminal includes a protruding section formed to extend in a predetermined direction on a front surface of the substrate on which the terminal is formed.

12. The information storage device according to claim 11 , wherein the protruding section is arranged in a wedge-shaped area formed between an cuter edge of a annular section of the earth terminal and the metallic plates having a rectangular shape.

13. The information storage device according to claim 8 , wherein the body side terminal includes a plurality of metallic member terminals, and the plurality of metallic plates comprise:

an input terminal for a clock signal to which a serial clock is input when that input terminal is connected to a first metallic member terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals,

an input terminal for a serial data to which the serial data is input/output when that input terminal is connected to a second metallic member terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals, and

an input terminal for a power source to which a voltage is input when that input terminal is connected to a third metallic terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals.

14. A developer container that is installed removably in an image forming apparatus body in a state in which a longitudinal direction of the developer container is horizontal, and that stores a developer thereinside, comprising:

a cylindrical container body that includes an opening formed at one end in the longitudinal direction and is configured such that the developer stored thereinside is conveyed toward the opening;

a cap in which the opening of the container body is inserted and that includes a discharge opening used to discharge the developer, which has been discharged from the opening of the container body, outside the developer container; and

a shutter that is held in the cap and moves to open/close the toner discharge opening in conjunction movement of the developer container when the developer container is attached to/detached from the image forming apparatus body, wherein

the cap includes the information storage device according to claim 1 installed in an end section in the longitudinal direction and a positioning hole engaged with a positioning pin installed in the image forming apparatus body.

15. The developer container according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a holder that holds the information storage device such that the information storage device is movable on a virtual plane that intersects with a moving direction in which the earth terminal approaches and comes in contact with the body side earth terminal.

16. The information storage device according to claim 15 , wherein the earth terminal is formed at least on an inner surface of the hole.

17. The information storage device according to claim 15 , wherein

the substrate includes one hole as the hole, and

the hole is formed at a position above a gravity center of the substrate.

18. The information storage device according to claim 15 , wherein the earth terminal includes a protruding section formed to extend in a predetermined direction on a front surface of the substrate on which the terminal is formed.

19. The information storage device according to claim 18 , wherein the protruding section is arranged in a wedge-shaped area formed between an outer edge of an annular section of the earth terminal and the metallic plates having a rectangular shape.

20. The information storage device according to claim 15 , wherein the body side terminal includes a plurality of metallic member terminals, and the plurality of metallic plates comprise:

an input terminal for a clock signal to which a serial clock is input when that input terminal is connected to a first metallic member terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals,

an input terminal for a serial data to which the serial data is input/output when that input terminal is connected to a second metallic member terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals, and

an input terminal for a power source to which a voltage is input when that input terminal is connected to a third metallic terminal of the body side terminal among the metallic member terminals.